2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme

In its online configuration, the 2020 UNAOC Fellowship Programme will take the form of a virtual engagement programme consolidated over 18 days and preceded by an introduction phase of two weeks. The theme is “Building peace in the age of new media” and 20 Fellows from Europe, North America and the MENA region have been selected for their experience in the fields of media and peacebuilding.

From 5 to 16 October, 2020 UNAOC Fellows will be introduced to three online modules on intercultural and interreligious dialogue, media and peacebuilding, in line with the 2020 theme “Building peace in the age of new media”. Developed by UNAOC and trainers, each module will introduce Fellows to global trends, key concepts and good practices in the above-mentioned fields, with a focus on the different contexts across Europe, North America, the Middle East and North Africa.

From 19 to 28 October, each cohort will then engage separately in online conversations with relevant actors from six countries. For each country, Fellows will engage in a series of 60-minute online discussions with (a) government and official representatives, (b) religious and community leaders, (c) journalists and media professionals, (d) civil society organizations and representatives of grassroots initiatives. The topics of these exchanges will revolve around intercultural and interreligious dialogue, as well as the 2020 theme “Building peace in the age of new media”. Cohorts will debrief regularly, both separately and jointly. When feasible, participants will also engage in virtual activities that will introduce them to the cultural diversity of the destination countries.

From 29 October to 4 November, Fellows will engage in webinars and online workshops focusing on (a) interreligious and intercultural dialogue and (b) on “Building peace in the age of new media” and through various pedagogical methods. Each section will offer a webinar developed in collaboration with KAICIID and four online workshops – two workshops will engage cohorts separately and two will engage them together. During these workshops, Fellows will strengthen their competencies in the fields of intercultural and interreligious dialogue, media, and peacebuilding, and collaborate to develop material and recommendations on ways to use media and information technology to support the global community and international organizations in their work towards sustainable peace and conflict prevention.